Cuba Music and AfricanInfluence - Essay Example

? Cuban music an African influence The Caribbean Island Cuba imposed a great influence on the formation of the great variety of musical directions in XIX-XX. The roots of the Cuban music lie in the so-called “cabildo”, which represented the meetings of African slaves which were brought to the island. The meetings of “cabildo” preserved African cultural traditions even after the abolition of slavery in 1886 that forced them to unite with the Rome Catholic Church. At the same time the religion called Santeria, which spread over the whole Cuba, was developing. Santeria greatly influenced the Cuban music as well as other areas of life. By the 20th century the elements of Santeria appeared in the popular and folk music. The roots of Cuban music lie in Hispania and Western Africa, but later it was influenced by the various music directions from different countries such as France, the United States and Jamaica. At the same time, Cuban music itself influenced other countries developing not only jazz and salsa, but also Argentine tango and Hispanic flamenco. Cuba is a country of unique and wonderful musical styles. Melodious Hispanic motives are mixed with the bright rhythms of Africa. Music accompanies any event: beginning from religious rituals to the entertaining motives. Dances play the great role on the cultural life of the country: in any city, town and small village there is Casa-de-la-Trove which represents a house of music. This is the place, where all the citizens come to dance and to listen to the music which is performed by the local musical groups. However, Cubans usually do not need special places to dance, they can dance anywhere. The Cuban music has influenced much the development of the great variety of music styles in the 19th and 20th century. It is very popular in the world “Cuban music ha5 travelled around the world. Its most obvious in Huence has been on what is presently the world's most popular form or Latin music, SalBO, which is concentrated in New York, Puerto Rico and Venezuela, yet very popular in Europe, Arrica, Japan and in the rest or the Americas. Salsa draws on the contribution or Cuban music much more than on any other single element. It cannot be disputed that Cuba has always been the world's Latin Music capital (Gills 1). The basis of Cuban music is the music of African settlements such as Araras, Bantu, Carabaliez and Jorubas. Such settlements have preserved their authentic cultural traditions, despite the fact that they were forced to take a catholic religion. At the same time the religion Santeria had been developing and soon it disseminated through the whole territory of Cuba. This religion depicted the music of Cuba as percussion instruments are a part of religion and its worship ritual. By the 20th century the Santeria element have penetrated deeply in the Cuban pop and folk music, and into the music of other countries such as France, the USA and Jamaica. The native inhabitants of Cuba were Indians that were eradicated by the Spanish colonizers and the Indians music trend “areito” disappeared as well. Certainly, the emigrants have integrated the peculiarities of their music into the Cuba music. To the famous Cuba composers belong Esteban Salas, Robredo Manuel, and Haspar Villet. “A brier look into Cuba's unique history will provide us with some insight into these recordings. Cuba's particular cultural heritage is largely the result or two horrendous examples or inhumanity- the annihilation or the indigenous peoples or the island, and the institution or the abominable slave trade which endured for almost 400 years. Spanish colonization began at the end or the 15th century. The Indians or Cuba were exploited, enslaved, murdered and practically extinct within 35 years after colonization began. This explains why there is virtually no Indian in Huence in Cuba's traditional or popular music, unlike the countries or Central and South America, where the Indian heritage has played a major role in cultural development.” (Gills 1). The development of Cuban music is distinguished by its dynamics, variety of influences, which can’t makes people indifferent. Beginning from its designing origination till the global recognition nowadays, Cuban music has been gradually acquiring its cultural meaning influencing also the musical style of other countries. Since its appearance in the middle of the 18th century, the star of Cuban music has been shining in international arena. The double-sided aspect of Cuban music, which consists of the folklore instruments and popular forms of expression as well as more abstract and complex form known as classical music, are typical for Cuban music. Speaking about classical music it is essential to mention that due to reason of the lack of its representation to the masses and the natural complexity, classical music is ignored by all the Cubans. As the music of the people, the culture of which has rich and diverse folklore, Cuban popular music, which was made out of many popular songs and dance music, overshadowed classical music. “African slaves brought to Cuba their national culture and ritual dances. Later they were mixed with Hispanic music and spread through all the America (in 1920th Rumba, jazz music with drums, which is played by big orchestras and jazz bands). The rules of the dance conga-line were thought out by slaves. The main task of the dancer is the imitation of the movement of a man who is put into chains. Generally, Cubans dances are related to the Afro-Cuban religion Santeria. For today the most popular Cuban melody is son, which fist appeared on the province Oriente. Mambo, bolero, salsa and cha-cha-cha also springs from son. Now Cuban music continues to develop and Cuba is famous by the musicians who create good music”. (Gills 2) Many Cubans like to repeat the lines of one famous song: «el son es lo mas sublime para el alma divertir» (son is what can gladden the soul). A great number of investigators have to recognize that son is the most influential genre in the Cuban music of the 20th century. Moreover, it is possible to state that son represents the foundation for the modern salsa. Son started to develop at the end of the 19th century in the eastern part of Cuba in the province Oriente, namely in the cities Santiago de Cuba and Guantanamo, where it sounded on the holidays Changui. The genre gained a great popularity since 1892 due to the musician Nene Manfugas, who performed it with his own group at the carnivals in Santiago. “The most well-known Carnaval celebrations occur in Santiago (the original capital) and in La Habana (official capital since 1607). They have many similarities, but are distinct in certain aspects or instrumentation and musical structure. This piece is a good example of the Conga style from Santiago, identi6able by instrumentation; the brake-drum from a car wheel is struck with a metal rod to clearly produce the steady rhythm which permeates the entire piece. This instrument is referred to simply as Hierro (literally, iron)” (Gills 3) Nene played the simple peasant musical instrument which represented wooden box with three strings. The instrument was called Tres and later it turned into the main symbol of Cuban son. Son was greatly influenced by the African music. Among the main instrument, which are traditionally used to play this music are tres, guitar, bongo, maracas etc. Some of them are used by the soloist. At the beginning of the 1900s son comes to Havana and then spreads during all the Cuban territory. At the beginning it was a dance for poor, the dance of the suburbs and the poorest regions, it was not recognized by the rich people and it was even banned by the government, which considered it to be immoral. But gradually son started penetrating into the dance salons of Havana and many other Cuban cities and by the end of the 1920th it became national music genre of Cuba that outbid danson. In 1930th son becomes popular outside Cuba having moved to the USA and Europe. It is impossible to list all the performers of this wonderful music, but we should mention several famous names: Arsenio Rodrigues,Quarteto, Septeto Nacional Ignacio Pinero, Conjunto Casino, Patria, ,La Sonora Matancera, Trio Matamoros,Sexteto Habanero,Ibragim Ferrer, Eliades Ochoa,Compay Segundo, Benny More and many others. “The particular combination or musical forms presented here reflects Cuba's cultural heritage very accurately. Some forms, such as the Bolero, were brought to Cuba by the Spanish colonists. Palo, Bakoso and Bembt are almost purely African in origin. There are also forms such as the Yambu, Conga, Guaracha and the Son, which were created through the process or cultural synchronization which has been ongoing since the first African slaves arrived in Cuba at the beginning or the 16th century. The Danza was derived from the Conlradanza which was brought to Cuba by the French towards the end or the 18th century” (Gills 1) Speaking about Cuban music, it is not possible to mention Cuban rumba. It differs from the Latin American rumba and represents a mix of many rhythms and dances. The foundation of Cuban Rumba is also the music of the African slaves, which were brought to Cuba by the Spain conquerors. Rumba was developed first of all in provinces Havana and Matanzas and it was severely prosecuted as dangerous and indecent. Cuban rumba differs much from the famous dance of the same name as well as from the African popular music with the same name. Cuban rumba was developing in the rural regions and last time it is influenced by jazz and hip hop. “The most important musical instrument in the Rumba is a simple pair or hardwood sticks called Clave. They are struck against each other producing a clear and penetrating sound and a syncopated rhythm upon which the entire Rumba is based. Whether or not the actual Claves are being played, the "Clave reeling" is always present and might be clapped with the bands, played on a bell, or played on the side or a drum with a stick ” (Gills 2). Having researched the influence of Cuban music by the African melodies, we can make a conclusion that the slaves brought to Cuba by Spaniards had their own culture, which was originated from slavery. They created many melodies and dances and managed to influence the culture of Cuba so deeply and strongly, that new styles of music appeared and became very popular. These styles were brought to other continents and help create popular musical styles. Cuban dances represent an original mix of classical and folk dances, which are unique and deserves attention. Everybody who comes to Cuba is first of all attracted by melodiousness of its inhabitants, which was brought to them by slaves and their own culture created in the oppressive conditions. This testifies that Africans have their own unique and very beautiful culture that was recognized in the whole world. Works cited Gills, Verna Music of Cuba. Folkways records and service corp., 1985 Read More